The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-06

ton Of the throne, and the violent ab-
rogation of all the institutions OF the
past. At the same time
there was the mans RI
otous, sensuous temperament to. be
satisfied. The volcano OF passion
was far from extinct; his vices were
costly; there was no excess in which
he did not revel; and the immoral
but not unnatural thought occurred
to him that he might at once help
the crown, his country and himself.
He opened negotiations with Yer
sailles. From the first, Marie An
toinette had regarded the recreant
aristocrat with the bitterest aversion.
She, a daughter of Hapsburgs and
the consort of a Bourbon, utterly
failed to comprehend this count-this
son of Marquis of ancient lineage
who had broken with his order, who
was hand and glove with the pie
beians of the Tiers Etat. She spoke
Of him habitusllA in her letters as
the monster" but, through the in:
termediary Of Mirabeau's friend and
agent, Monsieur de La Marck, she
and the King gradually came to
recognize the expediency Of coming
to an Arrangement which, by the ex-
penditure of certain sum Of money,
would give royalty the support OF the
ablest and most popular man in
France.
There have been apologies for
Mirabeau's venality. Sainte Beuv We
has, with exquisite subtlety, re.
marked: "No; Mirabeau did not
sellshimsell, but he allowed himself
to be paid. There is the shade" 1t
would appear to less refining minds
that the shade is equivalent to
that Of distinction without differ
ence. M. Jourdain Indignantly d :
MED the imputation Of being a cloth
merchant. 1t was only that he knew
a good deal about cloth, and distrib-
uted it among his friends for money.
Mirabeau did not put himself up to
auction, but he allowed himself to
be knocked down to a very high
bidder. The witty Rivarol re-
marked that where money was to be
made Mirabeau was capable Of ev-
erything-even OF a good action.
Charles de Remusat more exhaus-
lively said Of him that there was
elevation mingled with his mean
ness, and grace with his cynicism:
that he was generous, perfdious
gross and charming; that he terrified
disguised and fascinated. His fa.h-
eI, who was the cause OF half his sor-
rows, used TO speak Of him as my
son, the word seller" Mirabeau
himself, when demonstrated with by
a really disinterested and attached
friend on the continuous orgie in
which his life was passed, would re.
ply, 1T you only had my youth, and
my father" The old Marquis, who
styled himself the Friend OF Man and
OF whose voluminons writings not q
line has come down TO posterity, was
wont to speak Of his sou, even
when q child, as the physical and
moral monster. At seventeen he
was given a commission in the army
and a miserably insufficient allow.
ance. He contracted debts and love
intrigues, and his terrible father OBJ
tanned "lettre de catchet" aud had
his son locked up in the fortress Of
the Isle Of Re. The Friend Of Mar
pursued his heir with unappeasable
ferocity. In all he procured twenty.
two "lettres de catchet "for his SON
Incarceration. In his dungeons Mi.
rabeau composed some Of the finest
Of his works; when he was at large
he occupied his leisure by squander.
ing his wife's dowry and running
away with the wives OF other people
His uncle, the Bailli de Mirabeau
seems best OF all his kindred to have
understood the character Of this ex.
traordinary man. The Bailli wrote Of
him in his youth: Either he is the
greatest trifler OF the universe, or he
will be the greatest subject in Eu.
rope-6t to be made general by land
or sea, or Minister, or Chancellor, OF
Pope, or anything you please" Per.
haps Mirabeau, as has been said Of
Goblet, might have been anything
he pleased, ii he had only been an
honest man.